Tips for Using Homebuilt Aircraft Kits

Using homebuilt aircraft kits to build your own airplane can be fun and rewarding, but it is still a monumental project that you can’t undertake lightly. In order to ensure a successful finished project you will have to make sure that you are truly prepared. The following are a few basic things you can do in order to prepare and plan for your project. One of the first things you should do when using homebuilt aircraft kits is to establish a builder’s log. This is where you will keep track of all your notes and information throughout the entire process. There are three different reasons why this is imperative: 1.    You will need this documentation in order to prove that you are responsible for building at least 51 percent of the plane. This is needed in order to receive an amateur built certificate. 2.    It may be used in order to prove the worth of the plane for either insurance reasons or for resale.3.    It is useful for keeping track of where you are in the project and you can also compare notes with other builders. There is no one correct format to use when you are making your builder’s log. Just a typical 3 ring binder will be fine as long as you have enough space for receipts, pictures of parts you have completed, weld samples, glue joints, and the dates you work on the project. One of the most important things that you should keep track of when using homebuilt aircraft kits is the inspections. You should have a technical inspector take a look at your work after every major phase of the project. When you do, jot down the date the inspection took place, who performed the inspection, and the results. You should also obtain an N number for your plane fairly early on and make sure your plane is registered with the FAA. If you like, you can have a number of your own choosing; typically it will be the letter “N” with 5 letters or numbers following it. This step must be accomplished before you can have an FFA inspector issue you a certificate proving its airworthiness. The building stage contains many other steps that you will have to complete in order to have success with homebuilt aircraft kits. For example, you should mark your instruments with the required marking for safe operation. These will typically inform the pilot which speeds not to exceed and the maximum and minimum use for safe operation. You will also need to post the word “EXPERIMENTAL” on the inside of your plane on all entrances to the cockpit and cabin. These markings should be 2 inches high and must be able to be read. These are needed in order to receive your air worthiness certificate.